A day in Paris with Kids

Paris is up there with the most well known Cities in the World. And it truly deserves more than just a day….but as is often the case time can be short so what can, and what should, you do during a day in Paris with Kids?

Paris is the Capital of France and sits in Northern Centre of the Country, its is traversed by the River Seine and is home to over 2.1 million Parisiens.

Why should I go to Paris?

Paris is utterly iconic. From the World Famous Eiffel Tower, to some of the best known Museums and Architecture on the planet. Couple that with some of the best food in the World, a gorgeous River and wonderful outdoor spaces – Paris is unlikely to disappoint.

What time of year is best to visit Paris?

We have visited Paris a number of times, at different times of the year. Our latest visit was on a warm day in Autumn and it captured my heart. Red and Orange leaves covering the pavements, but with enough warmth in the air to be pleasant walking around it really was a beautiful time of year to see Paris.

I have visited in the height of summer which felt a bit oppressive and extremely hot! Mid winter might be the opposite problem, where low temperatures make it hard to enjoy the best of what the City has to offer. As with many places I have come to the conclusion that Spring and Autumn, with the least extreme temperatures you can really make the most of indoor or outdoor pursuits.

If you fancy seeing Paris in full celebratory mode, then head there for Bastille Day on the 14th July. There are two days of free celebrations all across the City including a military parade, cultural programme, an outdoor operatic concert, and most of all, breathtaking fireworks.

What to eat in Paris with Kids

A word of caution. Paris is expensive! I forever will be haunted at the 18 Euro sandwich we had on the Champs Elyssee back in 2002 (the fact I remember is 19 years later shows how shocked I was!)

A good option, especially with kids, is to take your own light lunch and enjoy that in one of the many parks or even better, on the shores of the Seine. You’ll be mixing with plenty of Parisiens doing the same, especially in the warmer months.

If however, you’d prefer to eat in a restaurant or cafe you won’t be short of choice, in fact, there are reputedly over 40,000 in the City. As with most Cities, avoiding the hot spots (such as right near the Eiffel Tower or Champs Elyssee) will see you get better value for money (and often better quality food).

With some of the best restaurants in the World you can find a very good meal all over Paris, but if you prefer something lighter (but probably no less calorific!) then one of the Cities MANY bakeries (Boulangerie in French) will see you swamped with options from freshly baked Baguettes to divine Pastries or Pain Au-Chocolat.

If you are wondering what food will be on offer in Restaurants and Cafes, then ‘anything’ would be your answer. The cuisine in Paris is truly multiculteral, reflecting the diverse nature of the City. However, if you fancy embracing all things French then a traditional french restaurant will have offerings such as a Jambon Beurre which is a baguette with butter and ham, Steak Tartare or Onion Soup.

The very bravest might want to sample Escargot – which is snails!

MUST SEE’s in Paris with Kids

Here are 5 of our MUST SEE’s in Paris with Kids, all of which are doable during one day in the City.

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most well recognised pieces of architecture in the World, standing at 324 metres (1,063 ft) tall you can opt to walk up (if you’re feeling fit!) or take one of the lifts to the top.

The prices vary depending on how high up you go and how you get there! Check it out here:

You don’t have to go up the Eiffel Tower to experience it. There are lots of green spaces around the Tower for great photos and to admire it from ground level. Its wonderful to see the light display after dark so I’d really recommend timing your visit there to include at least a bit of time after dark or at sunset.

Montparnasse Tower

We completely lucked out before our most recent visit and had this Tower recommended to us for a great view of Paris, including the Eiffel Tower. Its a fairly nondescript Tower, but wow is the view from the top amazing! We also, luckily, were there on a beautiful clear Autumn day with the view stretching as far as the eye could see.

It is excellent value for money and its amazing to see all the famous sights of Paris from above.

Adult: €16

Children age 12-18: €12.50

Children 4-11: €7

Children under 4 go free.

After we finished at the Tower we walked the 25 minute walk to the Eiffel Tower. Walking in Paris is easy, with wide open pavements and gorgeous tree lined streets. There is a very comprehensive Metro but walking is a lot more pleasant!

Seine River Cruise

A wonderful way to see Paris is from the deck of a River Cruise. Even in Autumn it was plenty warm enough to sit up top and admire the beautiful views. We took a Cruise with Bateaux Parisiens which lasted an hour which was perfect, sailing from the Eiffel Tower.

Again, it was great value for money and something we could all enjoy as a family. We went on a cruise that set off just before sunset and arrived back at the Eiffel Tower just as it started its first evening light show. An ideal time for the Cruise. There was snacks, drinks and a toilet available on board.

Prices:

Adult: €15

Children: €7

These are the online prices which are slightly cheaper than booking at the ticket office.

Arc D’Triomphe

The Arc D’Triomphe is one of the most iconic sights in Paris. It took an incredible 30 years to complete and The Arc de Triomphe honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I.

I have never actually been in the Arc D’Triomphe or up to the viewing platform. But even if you don’t go in it, it’s 100% worth seeing from the outside. As you can see in the photo below, it’s stunning in the evening and can be coupled with a stroll down the Champs Elysee.

Prices:

Adults: €13

Free entry for those under 18 and 18 to 25 nationals and / or residents of the EU.

Louvre Museum

The Louvre is the most visited Museum in the World and the Pyramid at the entrance one of the most well known sights in Paris.

The Louvre is also the biggest museum in the World, so even attempting to see it all in one visit is fruitless. Most people want to see its most famous resident, the Mona Lisa. But if you want to explore it fully I would set aside a full day.

The museum is family friendly with plenty to keep children entertained, good food facilities and also wonderful outdoor spaces. There are strollers and baby carriers to borrow as well as good baby change facilities.

I also always like Museums that have child friendly audio tour, my oldest, who is 7 often enjoys these.

Prices:

Adults: €17

Under 18s and 18-25 members of the EU: Free

Suggested 24 hour Itinerary

Below is my suggested Itinerary for A day in Paris with Kids:

• Louvre Museum – opens at 9am

• Lunch at the Louvre

• Walk to Montparnasse Tower (36 minutes)

• Montparnasse Tower (Visit takes approximately 1 hour)

• Walk 25 minutes to the Eiffel Tower

• Either relax at the Eiffel Tower or go up the Tower (Visit takes approximately 1.5 hours) This would be a good time to get food or have a picnic in the shadows of the Eiffel Tower.

• Catch a River Cruise from the Eiffel Tower for 1 hour.

• Walk to the Arc De Triomphe (29 minutes.)

• The Arc De Triomphe is next to Charles De Gaulle RER and Metro Train Station so you can get to a large number of places in Paris from there. RER A , M1, M2 and M6 all pass through this station.

Summary

Thanks for reading our blog on A day in Paris with Kids. I hope it’s helped give you an idea of what you can do in this amazing City.

We combined our latest visit to Paris with a trip to Disneyland Paris. Check out our Ultimate Disneyland Paris Packing list, here.